What is Ultrasound?

Clinical medical examinations are very diverse, especially the examinations required after women become pregnant, which are more complex and diverse. Ultrasound examination is one of the essential examinations for women during pregnancy. Many people are first-time parents, so they don’t know much about some examinations, such as ultrasound examination. Although this examination is unavoidable, some people still don’t know what an ultrasound examination is?

1. Ultrasound examination

Ultrasound is a type of sound wave imaging that helps doctors see the structures inside the fetus and the uterus. The ultrasound probe can carefully scan the inside of your abdomen and vagina. The sensor transmits back high-frequency waves with high echo and converts them into images which are displayed on the electronic screen. The images will show what the baby looks like inside the womb. Usually the doctor will give the expectant parents a printed ultrasound photo for safekeeping.

2. Function

Determining the age of the fetus: In early pregnancy, ultrasound examinations can help doctors accurately pinpoint the age of the pregnancy and prevent unnecessary medical interventions. About 30% of pregnancies are mistimed. To confirm the pregnancy date, an ultrasound scan is done before 20 weeks of pregnancy (usually scheduled between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy).

Identifying fetal abnormalities: Because ultrasound allows doctors to see the details of fetal development in great detail, it is key to detecting fetal abnormalities. Ultrasound screening for fetal abnormalities is usually performed between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy.

3. Preparation

After the expectant mother makes an appointment with the doctor, the doctor should provide an instruction sheet telling the expectant mother what preparations to make. Often, women who are less than 14 weeks pregnant are asked to hold their urine. Sound waves travel better in fluid, so a fluid-filled bladder can improve the quality of ultrasounds early in pregnancy. As the pregnancy progresses, the woman's uterus and fetus gradually become larger (the woman's uterus is now filled with amniotic fluid), and holding urine to fill the bladder is no longer necessary. Even so, some doctors still recommend that women do this because the sound waves are transmitted more effectively when there is fluid in the bladder.